Septonic: commercial septic tank additive introduced in Ghana

On 20 Aug 2004,the septic tank additive, Septonic, was launched into the Ghanaian market. The launch was organized by the Ministry of Environment and Science, in conjunction with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, and local representatives of Gentse Enterprise and A.H.T. Field & Company, the Canadian manufacturers of the product. Septonic is a biological agent formulated to prevent blockages in septic tanks and remove odours. It is an enzyme-based activator product, said to make sewage susceptible to attack from bacteria and liquefy it in the process.Septonic has been widely used in Canada, United States, the Mediterranean , and Central Europe for the past 60 years.

A word of warning from the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA): “Both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [1] and the Small Flows Clearing House [2] have reported that there is no evidence to support the use of additives with normally functioning onsite treatment systems. Some septic tank additives have been shown to do more harm than good. A normally functioning system should not require additives” [3].

[1] Septic tank additives (Onsite wastewater treatment systems special issues fact sheet 1), http://www.epa.gov/ord/NRMRL/Pubs/625R00008/html/fs1.htm

[2] Septic tank additives. Small Flows Quarter, vol. 2, no. 1 (2002). http://www.nesc.wvu.edu/nsfc/Articles/SFQ/SFQw02_web/SFQw02_Q&A.html

[3] NOWRA, Items to avoid in onsite system, http://www.nowra.org/?p=411

Source: Public Agenda, 23 Aug 2004

Keywords

• Disposal (latrines, sewerage)